The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-27
FIGHTING QUANTRELL.
A Brush with this Famous BushWhacker at indie
pendence, Mo.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On Feb. IL
1862, the 2d Ohio Cav. was camping in the out
skirts of Kansas City. Its business there was
TO watch Quantrell, who at that time was
organizing his famous company of bushwhack-
ers and cut-throats i'm and around Indepen-
dence, Mo- On the day following our arrival,
Just at dusk, there came a messenger, who re-
ported that Quantrell was in the town of indie
pendence and had delivered a haTanguc at one
of the public halls, calling on the people TO
turn out and drive the invaders from their SOIL
lie finally gathered n motley crowd, made up
of all sorts-the rag-tag aud bob-tail" of the
country. Some Of them had on bluc,jeans coats
and pants, Others were dressed in butternut,
while a few had on store clothes. They wero
"hard citizens" and n Northern "mudsill :"
would get wiped out if he came in contact
with them-so they thought.
We were ordered TO strike tents and saddle
up, and in seven minutes by the watch we
were ready. There were two companies, L
and l.. We left camp about two o'clock
A. m, and at break of day were marching
through the town. One company was de-
ployed, half on each side, and the other
went through the center. Our scouts were at
the head Of the column. Two of them were
known as the " Red Legs" They belonged to
Kansas, and were once with John Brown.
After dilgent search in and around the town
they came back and reported that Quantrell
was not there but had been there and left be-
fore dark that evening.
We got the two companies together and
marched out of town TO a farm house, where
there seemed TO be plenty Of corn standing in
the shock in the field. We were brought into
line disnounted and ordered 10 gather corn
and feed our horses, which we did. Co. l.,
which led the column, and was first on the
ground, got the brides off first, and the men
rushed TO the cornfeld 10 get their fodder We
Of Co. l. had not yet got our brides of, when
we heard firing, and on looking down the road
toward the town We discovered our rear guard
which we had left there for protection, flying
toward us with QuantrelPs men in pursuit and
firing into them.
We did not need orders, and in less than two
minutes were in our saddles. Out of the gar
in the fence we went Capt. Crawford Stewart
at our head. We drove the few men of Guam.
trells mob" back 10 the town, where they
again mingled with Quantrel's main force
which was ready TO receive US at the lower end
Of the town.
They were drawn up in lire and facing us
with Quantrell at their head. We went on til,
jump, formed platoons-20 men abreast-with
out Stacking our speed, until we were within
80 feet of them. Then VIC opened with our
revolvers-Smith q Wesson self-cockeTs-and
gave il to them. They could not stand
the onslaught but broke and ran in all direc
tions. We followed and picked them off where.
ever we could find them.
We killed seven, took nine prisoners, anC
| lost one man he could not manage his horse
and when the Southern chivalry ran, he wen
with them and was shot in the back So mucl
| for the brave man who sacked Lawrence anC
was the terror Of MssOuri.-SCoTT SHERMAN
Co. l., I'd Ohio Cav Stanberry Mo-